Spiritual Gift of Pastor

Pastor/ Shepherd (Eph. 4:11)

Definition:The spiritual gift of Pastor is the supernatural ability to direct, protect, and correct a local congregation or group of people towards spiritual maturity.

Description:
In the United States we have confused our definition with the person who leads the Sunday morning services. The Greek word for Pastor is the word Poimen, which means overseer or Shepherd. Someone who is graced with the gift of Pastor/Shepherd may or may not be in full time vocational ministry. The pastoral gifting is not limited to fulltime pastors but can be expressed in variety of different ways.

Example from the Scripture:
The two clearest examples of a Pastor are Timothy and Titus, who both were spiritual sons of Paul the apostle. In his Pastoral epistles (1 and 2 Timothy and Titus) Paul encourages these young men to lead their congregants well and to appoint other overseers, literally pastors, to do the same. In these letters it becomes clear that the qualifications to be a pastor are not the amount of people that follow you but personal character and the care you have for a certain group of people.

When this gift is present:
The spiritual gift of Pastor is involved with in the lives of people more than any other spiritual gift. Believers who are gifted in this are responsible for helping a group of believers mature spiritually though directing, protecting, and correcting them on their journey towards Christ likeness.

When this gift is absent:
When the pastoral gifting is absent in a local church the congregation will lack the guiding force towards spiritual maturity. In turn believers will wander towards their own interests and become susceptible to false doctrines and spiritual con artists.

In the Life of Jesus:
The Scriptures tell us that when Jesus looked upon the great crowds that were following him he was moved with compassion because the people were as sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9:36). In John 10:11 Jesus refers to himself as a shepherd, and later the apostle Peter refers to Jesus as the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls (1 Peter 2:25).

Do you have the spiritual gift of Pastor/Shepherd?

* Are you energized by meeting with people and providing them with biblical council?
* Do you excel at mentoring believers in their walk with God?
* Do people come to you for counsel and to help them mature spiritually?
* Take our free spiritual gift test

Practical ways to implement and develop the spiritual gift of Pastor/Shepherd:
* Speak to your pastor about opportunities to counsel people and disciple new believers.
* Spend time praying that God would strengthen this gifting.
* Check out our Bible Studies on spiritual gifts.
* Check out our videos and interviews.
* Sign up for our email list.

Ministry opportunities:
* Discipleship
* Counseling
* Pastor a local church
* Preaching and teaching
* Home group/ House churc